Federation mayor Pat Bourke reacts to scheme to increase senior public servant positions in places beyond Sydney

Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro has flagged up to 900 high-level jobs will be filled by regional residents, with targets set out from 2025.

He said the approach would spread roles and not restrict state government jobs to Sydney or large regional centres.

"It's not location specific, so whenever we advertise jobs...for the public service they don't have to be in Sydney, they are advertised as regionally-preferred," Mr Barilaro said.

"Previously...(we had) hubs in Albury or Wagga or Queanbeyan or Tamworth or Dubbo so you sort of see an escalation of those jobs in those major centres.

"What we now say is that it's regionally-preferred and many of our jobs can actually work in smaller regions."

Federation mayor Pat Bourke, who leads Corowa, Mulwala and Urana, greeted the move with "open arms".

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"It's timely that rural areas are getting more recognition and they've got advantages in times like this," Cr Bourke said.

"I think attitudes are changing to country areas and we do have a lot of services and a good quality of life and you're only an hour from anywhere major which is nothing for anyone in the city."

Mr Barilaro said there should be no impediment to non-NSW residents on the border seeking the roles.

"We would see Albury-Wodonga as two cities, one region, so that shouldn't be a problem," he said.

"On all our borders people live on either side of the border, work for both governments."

Mr Barilaro said the shift in policy meant key decisions would be better informed by life beyond Sydney and there would also be an economic stimulus through larger pay packets.

"Albury is a major city and a major hub and there's no reason that you can't see more public sector jobs, especially senior executive roles in a place like Albury," the Queanbeyan-based MP said.